Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter

The UAE Internal Auditors Association (UAE IAA) signed an agreement with Richard F Chambers Associates (RFA) to launch the Audit Trail Academy in the UAE, the first of its kind in the world for upskilling and training internal auditors.

The Audit Trail Academy is an educational programme in a classroom setting for training internal audit professionals based on the experience and insights of highly acclaimed internal audit expert Richard Chambers, global internal audit advocate and former President and CEO of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA Global), the world body of internal auditors, headquartered in the US.

Richard Chambers has chosen Dubai as the location to launch the Academy in recognition of the UAE IAA’s global stature and UAE’s resilience power and fast recovery from the pandemic to business confidence and economic growth.

Abdulqader Obaid Ali, Chairman of the board of UAE IAA, said: “The first course will start in January 2022, and that will be first in the world. We have already developed HASAAD program for the nationals, and this will be added value for us.”

We are planning to make it a permanent icon in the UAE, and we are talking to different universities to offer a course on auditing, so that we can attract more nationals. Already we have conducted HASAAD program for the nationals where we graduated 11 batches involving more than 100 Emiratis, and they are all top internal audit executives now,” he said.

“We in the UAE are very proactive. This has come to us as an inspiration from our leaders who are inspiring us to become number one. We are instrumental in Arabizing the internal audit course and the Arabized HASAAD program has now become the reference for internal audit, as it is available only in English and Arabic. We were the host for conducting Qualification in Internal Audit Leadership (QIAL) course, which is a professional certification for Chief Audit Executives. We are proud to say that after the US, it is offered only here in for the MENA region.

Abdulqader also said there has always been a gap in upskilling. “We are giving our members a platform where they can get all the competencies they are looking for,” he added.

Richard Chambers said the Academy is being set up here at a time when internal audit practice is facing various challenges such as speed of risk outpacing resources, complex environment and expectation at an all-time high.

“We will deploy innovative technology which will enable internal audit to dramatically enhance its capacity. Upskilling the internal auditors will drive greater efficiency and effectiveness which will yield greater value for stakeholders,” he said.

Richard Chambers added: “I have long admired the strong leadership of UAE IAA in the region and its global stature in the internal audit profession. I was honored to participate in The IIA’s first Global Council and International Conference in the MENA region, in Dubai, during my tenure at The IIA. Now I have the opportunity to launch my training academy in an exclusive relationship with this extraordinary body. I couldn’t be more honored.”

The programs will cover the content of three award-winning books authored by Richard Chambers: “The Speed of Risk,” “Trusted Advisors,” and “Agents of Change.” In 2021, following his retirement as President and CEO of The Institute of Internal Auditors, Chambers initiated plans to develop a training program based on his published works.

“UAE IAA, which represents 45 per cent of the total 7,000-plus Internal Auditors in the region, is taking a pioneering initiative in upskilling internal auditors in the UAE by imparting training based on the experiences and insights of Richard Chambers, former President and CEO of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA Global), the world body of internal auditors based in the US,” Abdulqader added.

In his forthcoming book ‘Agents of Change: Internal Auditors in an Era of Disruption’, Richard F. Chambers makes a compelling case that internal auditors must embrace change and strive to create value within their organizations. Combining data from a global survey of chief audit executives, as well as tapping into more than four decades of learning, observations and experience, Chambers lays out the necessary steps for practitioners to improve processes, mindsets and skillsets. Whether you are new to internal auditing or a seasoned professional, Chambers provides clear and convincing direction to elevate your skills and put you on the path toward becoming an Agent of Change.